Ow! Dental Hygienist needs slapping!

[vyktoriah]

One of the first things I did after getting my maternity exemption card was to book a dentist appointment, as I haven't seen a dentist since before I moved to the UK 7 years ago! She was very sweet, went through a lot of information with me and did some work on me straight away, and I was chuffed to know it was all free.

Then, at the end of the appt, she said as it had been so long since I'd had a teeth cleaning, she would suggest I come back and see the hygienist. She said it is not a free service, so I'd need to pay £45 but as plaque can build up big time in pregnancy and cause issues, I should have it done. So I made the appt.

Went in this morning for an appt at 11:30. Was sat in the waiting room for 45 minutes just wondering when I'd be seen. It wasn't very busy and some of the receptionists were having a gossip with some other employees. There was a woman in scrubs just sitting at the side being quite annoying (ie - loud, talkative, negative, etc). After about half an hour of her just sitting there making comments across the room to the receptionists, she got up and went into another room. A few minutes later she came out and called my name. It was the hygienist! All that time I was waiting, and she was just sitting there!

Then, when she got me in the chair she kept talking to me, but as she had her back to me, I had to ask her to repeat herself. She got huffy and made me feel silly for asking. Then she put on her gloves, and I told her that I'm quite allergic to latex so could she please use some latex free ones. Again she got all huffy and said she didn't have any on hand and how allergic was I?

?!?!?!?

Finally when she saw me looking incredulous, she went and got some latex free gloves and started work. She was absolutely brutal, yanking my mouth around and digging in. I didn't expect it to be super pleasant, but it felt like she was waging war on my mouth!! She only worked for about 10 minutes and then she said, "I don't know why you were sent to me. Your teeth are fine. There's not much build up at all. Just keep brushing and flossing as normal."

She went to send me on my way, and I had to point out that my gums were bleeding and asked if I could maybe rinse my mouth out. She laughed and said, "Oh yah! I forgot!" She gave me a cup of rinse and then sent me on my way.

I can't believe I had to pay £45 for that experience!!!!! GRRR

 

[LoolaBear]

i would seriously complain hun!
they will have records of timings and timings of other appointments (or lack there of) and you will at least be able to prove you were late in for no reason.
at least knowing hte fact she will get a good telling off will help make you feel a bit better about it.
luckily my dentist does a small clean there and then if ive got a small build up as it saves me having to pay £40 just for a few scrapes really.
hope that helps you to feel better. xx

 

[Sarah&Ady]

Defo complain and make sure it is to the practice manager xx

 

[Raspberries]

I'd complain! doesn't sound like fair treatment at all with her sitting around waiting and about your allergy! What a mong!

I hated my dentist when I went a couple of weeks ago, he's always super nice and gentle but he was so vicious it brought tears to my eyes and all I could feel was the blood in my mouth pregnancy gums are so lovely.

 

[bigbetty]

I would definitely make a complaint.

I don't understand why you have been charged £45 when a scale and polish is included as part of a regular check up - and that normally only costs £16.50 if you weren't exempt!!!!!

And as for the way you were treated - just disgusting!

You teach her not to mess with a hormonal pregnant woman luv lol!!!

 

[lozzy21]

Sounds like the dentist was trying to con you out of some money

 

[PurpleKisses]

That sounds horrible! I've had bad dental experiences with hygienists but the one you saw sounds unprofessional and lazy! I would definitely complain!

 

[Aunty E]

Urgh for the bleeding gums - my dentist has been lovely, but I had to have quite a bit of work done (lots of fillings and two big inlays) and it's always a bit distressing when the gloves are covered in gore!

Your hygienist sounds horrid, I would write to the practice manager to complain - you might get a free appointment or something.

 

[vyktoriah]

Thanks for all the advice ladies. I rang the office this afternoon and asked to speak to the practice manager, but she wasn't in. I gave a brief explanation to the woman who answered, and she said she'd have the manager call me back tomorrow. But she also said that the hygienist isn't even an employee there! She's a sort of locum who goes to different dentists offices in the area whenever she is needed. They don't actually employ a full time hygienist there.

Seems strange to me!

But anyway, she said I'm not the first person to complain about her, and from her tone of voice, I get the feeling the other employees don't like her much either. So we'll see what happens.

 

[bigbetty]

Good luck - people only think they can get away with things because no-one stands up to them.

 

[Hannaaisha]

Dentist should be free if you are pregnant!

 

[Fraggles]

Make a complaint hun I wouldn't pay that much for that.

 

[Hannaaisha]

With your nhs exemption card I mean. You get free dentist from when you are pregnant to 1 year after the baby is born.

 

[babyloulou]

With your nhs exemption card I mean. You get free dentist from when you are pregnant to 1 year after the baby is born.

Yes but the hygienist is considered a "private treatment" whether you are exempt or not. I did exactly the same thing - went for my free, exempt check-up and got referred straight to a "chargeable" hygienist appointment! It really hurt me too OP- she said it does tend to really hurt in pregnancy! I was covered in blood after!

 

[Hannaaisha]

I went the other day as well and same thing my mouth was pouring with blood. I got my teeth polished and cleaned and had my first filling and it was all for free. I think they are scammers or something it should have been free.

 

[babyloulou]

I checked on the NHS guidelines and it did say Hygienists are chargeable. You must have just had a lovely dentist who did the cleaning for you for free Hannaaisha

 

[Dragonfly]

I remember going to a dentist once who was new in the place I go to, it was an emergancy app and my tooth ache was so bad all night I was screaming into a pillow, good job I wasnt pregnant or I would have been in trouble with the stress and screaming I was doing. No pain killer would work on it even. So there I was with no sleep red eyed and pale at 11 am in her chair, what a knob! he was rude to me, huffing, slamming things about and cursing at me because it took him an hour to fix my tooth. Snapped my head towards him got thick that i wasnt moving teh way he wanted when I was dam nervous I didnt want get up and walk as I needed the tooth fixed. I never met a more arrogant shit! so when he was done cursing and being arroganct and my tooth was fixed I went mantle, I swung that door open and near took it off its hinges and called him a f*cking w*anker right up teh hall and got to reception and told them to keep him the hell away from me the w*anker. Everyone was shocked but hell I was through that night to get treated like that made my blood boil. I came back I think it was a month later and everyone was asking me what actually happened as he got sacked, they had enough of his mouth there. I seen him after that and he apologised to me and was nice but didnt have a job any more. Just said he gets in bad tempers and hates patients who are nervous even though he said i was a good patient the guy before wasnt.

After your dental work is done open your mouth to them , you shouldnt take it or pay for the privilege of being treated like some dead test animal.

 

[Hannaaisha]

I agree never be scared to say whats on your mind otherwise you might never get what u want. At least that crusty dentist realized he was in the wrong after that otherwise he would have carried on the same.